SPA Modeler

Nice fix on the doors Stik!

Very nice work on our frontline military aircraft! Interesting distinctions between developmental and production models too.

Thanks guys!

Medicman71 wrote:Nice fix on the doors Stik!

I knew fillers wouldn’t work, so I had to come at the issue from a different way...

jkim wrote:Very nice work on our frontline military aircraft! Interesting distinctions between developmental and production models too.

Yes, the more I go back and forth between the kit and photos of the prototype and production aircraft, I can see where the mold makers didn’t quite capture either one properly. The basic airframe is X-35. But many details are F-35A. And the airframe would need serious work to address that, especially in the nose area.

That's an excellent bit of problem solving Carlos!

Great solution!

So today was another good long session at my work bench on this one. It’s been a rainy day here... yes it rains in Arizona... lol! So perfect modeling weather.

First up, the X-35A has a prominent exhaust on the right side aft of the intake that the kit does not include.



So I went to work drilling a hole, added some tube styrene that looks about the right diameter and glued it into place, then sanded it down to proper profile.







Then I glued the intakes in place, the X-35 has a sawtooth edge there compared to the F-35 having a straight angled edge



and lastly, I also glued the vertical stabilizers in place





Now that all of the basic airframe is done, it looks like a -35! There are still a few items that the kit is missing that I need to add before I am ready to start painting.

You may yet get there, Carlos. Thanks for the photo.

Thanks John. I’ll get to the finish line one day soon. At least it’s taken shape now.

I would say you're quite far along. Congrats on getting some bench time; I'm still trying to get some myself. Everything is looking amazing, keep it coming!

Thanks Mark. I’m sure that I’ll have more to post in a few days. And in a few days, the bench will be my refuge, as were gonna have a house full here...